What is the VWX file format?
.vwx is the native project file format for Vectorworks, a professional CAD and BIM application developed by Vectorworks, Inc. (a Nemetschek Group company). The .vwx extension was introduced with Vectorworks 2008, replacing the older .mcd format used by MiniCAD and early Vectorworks releases.
Each .vwx file is a proprietary compressed binary container that holds an entire design document - 2D drafting geometry, 3D solid and NURBS models, design layers, classes, and embedded resources such as symbols, textures, hatches, line types, worksheets, and scripts. Vectorworks is available in several discipline-focused variants: Architect (buildings and BIM), Landmark (landscape and site design), Spotlight (entertainment and event staging), and Designer (all disciplines combined).
Files open natively in Vectorworks on Windows and macOS. The Vectorworks Nomad app for iOS and Android provides mobile viewing, and Vectorworks Cloud Services offers browser-based access without a desktop license.
For collaboration with other CAD and BIM tools, Vectorworks can export .vwx projects to DWG, DXF, and IFC among many other formats. Multi-user project sharing is handled through companion .vwxp files. Other related formats in the Vectorworks ecosystem include .vwxd (design layer viewports) and .vwxr (resource libraries).
The file has no publicly documented magic-byte signature; it is reliably identified by its .vwx extension and can only be opened natively by Vectorworks.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA .vwx is a passive design document with no scripting exposed to the opener, so the file itself is low-risk. The practical cautions are version compatibility (a newer .vwx won't open in an older Vectorworks - ask for an export to your version) and provenance: design files are valuable intellectual property, so treat received drawings as confidential. Avoid 'free VWX viewer/converter' download portals - no legitimate standalone VWX viewer exists outside Vectorworks' own tools, so such sites are typically adware traps.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open VWX files
Windows2 apps
Vectorworks
Paid Native app - File > Open the .vwx. A free time-limited trial opens files when you don't own a licence. 
Vectorworks Cloud Services (web)
Freemium Upload the .vwx to view/share it in the browser without the desktop app (free account). 
macOS2 apps
Vectorworks
Paid Native macOS app (Vectorworks is strongly Mac-based) - File > Open. Free trial available. 
Android1 app
Vectorworks Nomad
Free Free companion app - open .vwx uploaded to Vectorworks Cloud Services to review on iPhone/iPad.
Vectorworks Cloud Services
Freemium Upload and view/share .vwx in any browser; generates web-viewable presentations from the file. Technical details
deep spec| Developer | Vectorworks, Inc. (Nemetschek Group) |
| Format type | Proprietary compressed binary container |
| Predecessor format | .mcd (MiniCAD / early Vectorworks files, pre-2008) |
| MIME type | application/octet-stream |
| Geometry support | 2D drafting, 3D solids, NURBS surfaces, and mesh objects |
| Layer and class system | Layers (stacked design planes) + Classes (visibility and style groupings) |
| BIM capability | Building Information Modeling via building stories, IFC-linked objects, wall/slab/roof tools |
| Embedded resources | Symbols, textures, hatches, line types, worksheets, record formats, and scripts |
| Scripting languages | VectorScript (built-in) and Python (via Vectorworks SDK) |
| Platform | Windows and macOS (desktop); iOS and Android via Vectorworks Nomad |
| Export interoperability | DWG, DXF, IFC, PDF, RVT, SKP, OBJ, FBX, and others |
| Project collaboration | Multi-user project sharing via companion .vwxp project files |
| Cloud access | Browser-based viewing and markup via Vectorworks Cloud Services |
| File signature | No publicly documented magic bytes; identified by extension only |
| Related Vectorworks formats | .vwxp (project), .vwxd (design layer), .vwxr (resource library) |
| Internal encoding | Proprietary binary encoding; internal structure not publicly documented |
| Released | 2008 (Vectorworks 2008 - the .vwx extension replaced the older .mcd MiniCAD/VectorWorks files) |
| Specification | www.vectorworks.net |
VWX conversions
Community Q&A
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